School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-When Arthur dares D.W. to be "perfect" for one day, she becomes polite, obedient, and tidy. She makes her bed, says "hello" at school ("Nobody likes a grouch, so smile a little!"), shares, and gleefully obeys her parents' every request. The young aardvark addresses her readers directly, bringing up points as she goes through a typical day filled with familiar tasks. Unfortunately, there is no conflict to add interest to the narrative. There are a few snicker moments, such as, "If I sneeze, burp, or fart, I just say `Excuse me, please.'" The cartoon artwork is lively and colorful and showcases Brown's familiar characters. The final page asks, "Are you perfect yet?" with questions relating to D.W.'s experiences. Parents looking for books about manners will find this title a helpful tool to start a discussion.-Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
After her brother, Arthur, dares D.W. that she "couldn't be perfect for one whole day," the younger aardvark sibling models good behavior in D.W.'s Guide to Perfect Manners by Marc Brown, saying "please" and "thank you," cleaning her room, and saying "excuse me" when she "sneeze[s], burp[s] or fart[s]." (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved